Red Sox lose to New York Yankees

BOSTON -- If the New York Yankees make it to the postseason in Derek Jeter's grand finale, they might be able to point to Sunday night as a key to their run.

New York came from behind three times and scored an 8-7 victory over the rival Boston Red Sox. The Yankees won twice in the three-game weekend series.

Left fielder Brett Gardner broke a 7-7 tie with a solo homer leading off the sixth inning, newly acquired infielder Stephen Drew drove in four runs against his old team, and recently claimed reliever Esmil Rogers tossed three innings of no-hit relief to give the Yankees the win.

Gardner, who has 44 RBIs out of the leadoff spot, hit his fifth homer of a seven-game road trip. He went deep off left-hander Craig Breslow (2-3) for his 15th homer of the year. Gardner also hit a two-run single in the second inning.

Rogers, claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, walked one and struck out three while winning his first major league decision of the season.

Right-hander Dellin Betances worked a perfect eighth (two strikeouts), and closerDavid Robertson threw a scoreless ninth for his 29th save in 31 chances.

Robertson walked catcher Christian Vazquez (2-for-2, two walks) on four pitches, but third baseman Brock Holt lined into a double play. Robertson survived a nine-pitch at-bat by second baseman Dustin Pedroia that included a long foul. Pedroia ultimately hit a hard grounder to Jeter at shortstop to end the game.

Designated hitter David Ortiz hit his 26th homer of the season (his 399th withBoston) and drove in three runs. Pedroia hit his first homer in 147 at-bats (No. 5 on the year) in his fifth consecutive two-hit game. He scored three runs.

The Red Sox who had their big fire sale Thursday, lost for the 10th time in their past 12 games and fell to a season-worst 13 games under .500 (49-62).

Yankees starter David Phelps, who allowed five runs in two innings, left due to right elbow inflammation. He will be evaluated further later in the week. Phelps is one of the replacements for the four disabled New York starters.

Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz gave up seven runs in five innings and failed to hold leads on 3-0, 5-3 and 7-4. He has allowed 18 earned runs in 16 innings over his past three starts.

The Red Sox got to Phelps quickly, opening on singles by third baseman Holt and Pedroia. Ortiz ripped a sacrifice fly to left-center, left fielder Yoenis Cespedes walked and first baseman Mike Napoli singled to load the bases. Nava singled home two more runs.

Buchholz, who quickly blew a 3-0 lead at Toronto two starts earlier, did it again as the Yankees tied it in the second. They had the bases loaded, with the help of two walks, and nobody out and third baseman Chase Headley struck out. Drew got a run in by beating a double-play relay and, after a walk to right fielder Martin Pradoreloaded the bases, Gardner singled home a pair.

Vazquez singled with one out in the bottom of the inning, and, one out later, Pedroia launched his two-run shot. Ortiz walked and Drew saved Phelps with an outstanding play to retire Cespedes.

Phelps was done after 53 pitches.

The Yankees (57-53) cut their second deficit in half in the fourth on doubles by catcher Brian McCann and Drew. However, Ortiz unloaded with two outs in the bottom of the inning, and it was 7-4.

A two-out double by designated hitter Carlos Beltran, a walk by McCann and a Headley double made it 7-5 in the fifth. Drew followed with a two-run single to tie the score.

NOTES: RHP Brandon McCarthy, 3-0 in four starts as a Yankee, opens New York's four-game home series with the Detroit Tigers on Monday, facing RHP Max Scherzer. The Yankees go against the past three AL Cy Young winners in three consecutive games (LHP David Price on Tuesday and RHP Justin Verlander on Wednesday). ... RHP Rubby De La Rosa, 0-3 with a 6.04 ERA in four road starts, opens Boston's road trip in St. Louis on Tuesday night. ... Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka, out with an elbow injury, hopes to start playing catch Monday. ... LF Allen Craig missed his second game in a row after sustaining an ankle injury in his Red Sox debut Friday. He said he will play against his old team Tuesday. ... Bostonrecalled RHP Steven Wright and optioned RHP Alex Wilson. … Red Sox 1B/LF Mike Carp, designated for assignment Thursday, was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers. ... LHP Jon Lester, traded to Oakland, took out a full-page ad in the Boston Globe thanking the fans. ...Red Sox RF Shane Victorino appears headed for season-ending back surgery.